Btw, if I were one would it be okay if I said it? That's what I thought (and I don't intend to use it again).
"LAYOFFS PROTESTED -- French riot police faced workers of the tire manufacturer Goodyear during a demonstration in front of the Goodyear headquarters in Reuil Malmaison, outside Paris, Tuesday. The US tire maker confirmed plans in January to close a French plant near the northern city of Amiens, which would lead to the loss of 1,173 jobs (Boston Globe February 13 2013)."
Now, that was a photograph carried in my printed Boston Globe today (a story you won't find in their web version), but more importantly, it is a news story that is out there. Therefore, someone made the journalistic decision to give this next story more weight and a full article. Now one can say they already had a photograph of one so why not add a different article? That would wash were it not for the Mardi Gras photo on page A2 of my printed Globe directing me to a story about the Mardi Gras partying on page A4. In fact, that often happens with Globe photographs. Nor does the Globe pick the story up in their business section.
Then again, maybe the prominence of this particular issue in my paper is just making me unhappy:
"French same-sex marriage, gay adoption law advances; Lawmakers send bill to the Senate in 329-229 vote" by Edward Cody | The Washington Post, February 13, 2013
PARIS — After months of philosophical debate and massive street demonstrations for and against, the French National Assembly on Tuesday authorized same-sex marriage and adoption by gay couples, despite France’s long history as a homeland for Roman Catholic tradition.
The legislation, passed 329 to 229 with 10 abstentions, was qualified as France’s most far-reaching social change since abolition of the death penalty in 1981.
The measure was scheduled to be taken up in April by the Senate, where the ruling Socialist-led coalition enjoys a majority and is likely to confirm the lower-house vote, making same-sex marriage the law of the land despite warnings that it undermines the foundations of French society....
Only Islam or the veil does that.
The main citizen organization fighting same-sex marriage, Demo for All, called on its supporters to not give up. It sponsored a “citizen vote” — a novel form of protest — in front of the National Assembly as the favorable tally was being recorded and vowed to continue challenging the law, in the courts and on the streets.
The lay opposition was backed by France’s main Roman Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, Jewish, and Buddhist clerical authorities, who testified in a rare joint appearance before a parliamentary commission.
But the vocal protests and street demonstrations came from the main conservative political coalition, the Union for a Popular Movement, and from Demo for All, as religious leaders sought to keep their distance.
Conservative opponents in the National Assembly introduced 4,999 amendments as a delaying tactic, all beaten down during 110 hours of parliamentary debate spread over 10 days and nights. The often raucous back and forth ended at 5:40 a.m. Saturday. Although passage was never in doubt, conservative leaders said the marathon was necessary to register their opposition and give voice to a broad disapproval across French society....
Although widely opposed in the tradition-heavy countryside and small towns, same-sex marriage has gained a small majority in most opinion polls in recent months. In that light, opposition political leaders said that even if they return to power, they are unlikely to try turning back the clock.
President Francois Hollande had put same-sex marriage and adoption by gay couples on the list of promises that helped lead to his election in May....
In making the change, the Socialists argued, France is only bringing its law up to speed with other progressive countries in Western Europe and beyond.
Seven European countries, including heavily Catholic Spain and Portugal, have already authorized same-sex marriage.
In the United States, where marriage is a matter for state law, nine states and the District of Columbia have approved same-sex marriage but a large part of the country remains divided on the issue.
The US Supreme Court agreed in December to hear a case challenging a state’s right to refuse marriage to gay couples.
Gay rights groups in France, backed by a number of left-wing Socialist Party figures, also have demanded that female couples have the right to medically assisted reproduction, which is carefully limited to certain married couples under current French law. But that issue, on which Hollande reportedly has personal doubts, was put off until consideration of a new family law promised later in the year.
--more--"
I need to find one for my Boston Globes.
